Walking heel



June 2, 1959 B. M. UNKAUF 2,888,919

WALKING HEEL Filed Dec. 6, 1957 i 4 /I8 0 & I2

/6 Byron M. Unkauf INVENTOR.

BY M

United States Patent WALKING HEEL Byron M. Unkauf, New Orleans, La. Application December 6, 1957, Serial No. 701,239

7 Claims. (Cl. 128-835) This invention comprises a novel and useful walking heel, and more particularly relates to a heel member adapted to be applied in an improved manner to the heel or posterior portion of a plaster cast to facilitate walking upon the cast by the patient.

The primary objects of this invention are to provide an adequate rubber or plastic heel to be applied to the posterior or heel portion of plaster casts to facilitate walking by patients wearing the casts; and to provide a rubber or plastic walking heel for plaster casts which can be applied thereto with ease and in a secure manner.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a plastic heel adapted to be applied to and incorporated in plaster casts to enable a patient to more readily apply his weight upon the cast for walking and to prevent slipping; and to provide some resiliency to the Walking movement of the patient.

These, together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a walking heel in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the heel of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a portion of a plaster cast showing the manner in which the Walking heel is applied thereto.

Referring first to Figure 3, it will be seen that the numeral designates the lower and heel portion of a plaster cast together with the foot of a person indicated therein, and to which the walking heel 12 in accordance with this invention has been applied to provide a nonslip and resilient heel for the cast and to thereby facilitate walking by the patient.

Referring now specifically to Figures 1 and 2, it will be observed that the heel assembly 12 may be formed of any suitable material, such as rubber, plastic, or the like, and preferably is of a one-piece molded construction. The heel assembly consists of a heel-Shaped, cup-shaped body portion 14 whose lower surface is corrugated, as at 16, to prevent slipping and the like, and which has a cavity 18 upon its upper portion. Projecting laterally from the upper portion of the heel body 14 is a forwardly extending plate-like member 20 Whose upper and lower surface is preferably provided with indentations, serrations or roughened areas, as at 22, to facilitate embedment of the same in the material of the plaster cast.

Rising from the rearward portion of the body 14 is a sleeve 24 which is arcuate in cross-section and which, at its upper ends, or at any suitable portion along its length is provided with laterally projecting ears 26. As

2,888,919 Patented June 2, 1959 shown in Figure 3, the sleeve 24 is adapted to be embedded in the material of the plaster cast rearwardly of the heel.

As so far described and illustrated, it will now be apparent that the walking heel is completely embedded in the material of the plaster cast and is securely fixed therein during the application of the plaster cast to the foot of a patient, by embedment of the plate-like portion 20 extending forwardly from the heel and the upstanding sleeve portion '24. The lower portion of the heel 14 projects below the bottom surface of the cast to provide the resilient, non-slipping heel surface 16 which thereby greatly facilitates Walking by the patient to whom the plaster cast is supplied. The cavity 18 at the upper portion or inside of the heel portion of the device is adapted to receive therein some of the plaster material of the cast, to thereby further anchor and rigidly secure the heel to the cast.

The relatively thin and appropriately curved, upwardly projecting sleeve 24 provides a means which can be effectively and easily received in the relatively thin wall of a plaster cast and securely anchor the rearward portion of the heel thereto, while the relatively rigid, forwardly projecting plate-like portion 20, received in the sole portion of the cast, serves to strengthen the latter and to firmly secure the heel thereto.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A Walking heel for use in plaster casts comprising a body adapted for embedment in the sole and heel portions of a cast and including a heel adapted to extend below the bottom surface of the cast and having a resilient, non-skid surface thereon, a plate extending forwardly [from the heel to be embedded within the material of the sole portion of the cast and an upstanding sleeve at the rear of the heel to be embedded in the rear and side Wall of the heel and ankle portions of the cast.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said plate, sleeve and heel are of integral construction.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said plate, sleeve and heel are of integral construction and of a resilient, plastic material.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said sleeve is arcuate in cross-section.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said sleeve is arcuate in cross-section and has laterally projecting arcuate ears at its upper end.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said plate has serrated upper and lower surfaces.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said heel has an upwardly opening central recess therein which receives the material of the cast sole and heel portion therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,189,053 Bryant Feb. 6, 1940 2,392,735 Hahn Jan. 8, 1946 2,634,723 Wright Apr. 14, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,014,877 France June 25, 1952 

